Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1887-12-03
FATE's CONTRASTS,
Two Hesults OF Musical Study i'm
Europe.

EufOp0.
Your story about Giulia Valda. the
Julla Wheelock OF former times in
Davenport, and her rise to eminence
as prima donna in Europe, was very
entertaining, but there is another
young lady who used to sing with the
Presbyterian choir here and who went
to Europe for training as a soprano in
opera who had no such good fortune
as Julia Wheelock, and whose fate is
the saddest, if not the most awful.
that can befall any woman"
The speaker was longtime resi-.
dent who used to take a great interest
in musical matters in the city.
And who was she, pray?" asked
the scribe.
" Minnie Beals-Miss Minnie Beals
don't you know her?"
The scribe didn't remember her as
a member of the Presbyterian choir.
lie did remember the name, and that
there was something awful connected
with it, but couldn't recall it particu-
larly.
"Well, she was in Davenport a
great deal, and sang with that choir
often. She took music lessons in
Davenport, and her father was a pretty
good customer of our music stores.
Ills name was M. B. Beals. His
home was in Moline. They lived
there in the '60's and went to Kansas
in 70. Their home was near an army
post, and Minnie Beals became ac-
quainted with Lieutenant Reed, who
fell in love with her. The famii y re-
turned in rs, and that is when our
acquaintance commences. She was a
very handsome young lady, with
perfect voice and winning ways. She
was in Davenport good deal, and
was favorite in musical circles. She
had determined to 60 to Europe to
pursue her musical studies. One even
ing concert was given for her bene-
fit in Moline. A good number Of
Davenport people went over. Prof.
Cramer and Mr.. Wallace assisted, 1
remember. Just after the concert
Lieut.. Reed came to Moline and his
visit resulted in betrothal, but Miss
Beals insisted on her year of instruc-
ton in vocal culture in Europe. The
Lieutenant consented on condition that
the marriage take place before her de-
parture. His people lived in New
York, his father being a wealthy mer-
chant. Miss Beals and her mother
visited the Lieutenant's people, and
the senior Reed was so pleased with
his sons betrothed that he told her
she should have the best instruction
that she could get in Europe and at
his expense. After few weeks the
marriage took place in Grace Church,
New York, and at o'clock the same
afternoon the bride sailed for Havre
in a steamer.
well, l am stretching it out. The
Lieutenant and her people in Moline
received letters from her for several
months--and at last her husband was
astounded by a telegram announcing
her death at Milan. He asked for
particulars, and the reply was that
she died suddenly from heart trouble.
He requested that her remains be for
warded to New York. In due time the
casket arrived, but with instructions
that it should not be opened on any
account. The instructions were
followed-the casket was inferred in
the Reed plot in Greenwood Gene
terry. 1t was not long after that Lieu
tenant Reed received a letter which
stated that his wife was living. He
caused the casket to be disinterred and
the remains examined. The body was
that of gray-haired, toothless, aged
woman. The Lieutenant then COM
menced his investigation, and discov-
cred that his wife was indeed alive,
the mistress of an Italian marquis OF
wealth. He procured divorce. The
Beals removed from Moline to Michi-
gan several. years ago. Two years
since Mr.. Beals was in Davenport, but
in utter ignorance as to the fate OF
his dauehter-whether she was alive
still, or dead, he didn't know. Her
fate is that OF not a few American
girls who have gone to Europe alone
to study music in the gay capitals.
Julia Wheelock had an uncle who re-
sided in Milan to care for her and warn
her-his house was her home. Min
ME Beals, being alone and fricndless,
probably had an instructor who was a
panderer to such villains as the mar
quis who led her to ruin. ."-Daven-
port Democrat.